The publication of two reports in September has reminded us just how unsustainable global economic growth remains. But, despite the gloom, both reports pre-empt a mood, especially among business, that the challenges of resource depletion and climate change can only be met by renewed cooperation between state and market in ways that go beyond just taxation and redistribution. The first report was the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change’s latest assessment – which put the likelihood of human activity having affected the climate at 95 per cent certain. The second was the triennial study of the views of 1000 global CEOs towards sustainable development, compiled by the UN Global Compact and Accenture. Its findings in particular invite a response from social democrats.